On Safari in Rwanda

On arrival at the airport, our VIP Meet + Greet Service offers personalized assistance through all immigration and customs formalities. Once through, our private car and driver will chauffeur you to our luxury boutique hotel, ideally situated on a quiet tree-lined street close to the city center. The rest of this day is yours to relax and enjoy as you wish.

After breakfast, your personal car, driver and guide will be waiting to show you the capital. At the Kigali Genocide Memorial, you’ll explore one of the most turbulent chapters of the country’s history and the tragic events of 1994. Then experience first hand the resilience of the Rwandan people as you explore the downtown district; Kigali was founded more than 100 years ago as a German settlement and is now known for its progressive entrepreneurs, vibrant arts scene, and great dining. Then experience a slice of daily life at a local market and visit a handicraft center where you can gain deeper insight into Rwandan culture – and shop for gifts and mementos.  Meals B

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your included flight to the western reaches of Rwanda. On arrival in Kamembe, gateway to Nyungwe Forest National Park, you’ll be met and chauffeured to our luxury safari lodge, tucked inside the largest remaining tract of montane forest in East and Central Africa.   After time to refresh, join your personal guide to explore the nearby Gisakura Tea Estate, a working plantation that hugs the undulating hills at the western fringes of the National Park. Take in the sweeping views of the surrounding forest as you enjoy this hands-on experience and a chance to learn about the region’s rich heritage of tea cultivation.   Later, a guided canopy tour finds you exploring along walkways suspended nearly 200 feet above the shadowy jungle floor. This is the only treetop network in East Africa and offers a unique perspective on the flora and fauna of the rainforest canopy. Back at our luxury lodge, you’ll sit down to an elegant dinner featuring fresh, garden-to-table fare.   Meals B+L+D

The vast and pristine terrain of Nyungwe Forest National Park is one of the best places in Africa to encounter the remarkable Chimpanzee in its natural habitat. There are an estimated 500 chimpanzee individuals that live in these deeply forested mountains and two troops have been semi-habituated for human contact. Setting out very early with a licensed National Park guide and an experienced tracker who will likely travel ahead of your party, you’ll venture deep into the jungle for a chance to observe this amazingly intelligent and social primate, one that shares 99% of its DNA with the human species.   The Chimpanzee troops of Nyungwe range far and wide through the wilderness, and encounters can not be guaranteed. But with a bit of luck and perseverance, you may be well rewarded to hear a rustle of leaves and then, through the branches, spot a Chimpanzee gazing down upon you from the foliage. Or perhaps, you’ll observe a garrulous troop of these tree-dwelling primates catapulting through the forest canopy. Every trek is different and although Chimpanzee sightings are not assured, this trekking experience is one you will never forget – and offers a chance to spot some of the 13 other primate species that reside here along with a wide variety of birds. After lunch back at One & Only Nyungwe House, your private car and driver will take you northward to Lake Kivu where you will check in to our inviting resort on the shores of one of Africa’s largest lakes.  Meals B+L+D

After a leisurely breakfast, your car and driver will take you northward through the beautiful terraced hills that characterize much of Rwanda’s landscape. As you climb gradually toward the mighty Virunga Range, you’ll have breathtaking views of the volcano peaks rising high above the verdant countryside. Arriving in Ruhengeri, check in to our enchanting safari lodge and settle in to your private cottage. After lunch, the rest of this day is yours to enjoy this idyllic setting in the foothills of the Virunga Mountains.  Meals B+L+D

After an early breakfast, we’ll take you to National Park Headquarters where you’ll register for today’s Gorilla Trek. An informative briefing with Park staff follows, during which you’ll learn the important Dos and Don’ts while in the presence of the Gorillas. Today there are about 10 Gorilla families that are habituated to human contact, and their movements along the forested mountain slopes will determine the duration of your trek.   Setting out in a small group of no more than 8 visitors, you’ll trek with your guide to catch-up with your designated Gorilla family. A+R guests will also have the additional services of an attentive and experienced porter to carry their daypack and water bottle. After locating your assigned group, you’ll have one amazing hour to watch quietly as these magnificent primates go about their daily routine (Park regulations limit Gorilla / Human contact to 60 minutes each day). Then retracing your steps down the volcano, we’ll take you back to the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. Depending upon the duration of this morning’s Trek, you might join a guided afternoon excursion to experience the traditions and daily life of Iby’Iwacu village.  Meals B+L+D

Found only in the forested high-mountain terrain of the Virunga Mountains in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda, the Golden Monkey is an endangered member of a family of primates commonly known as Old World monkeys. They are inquisitive and playful, often spending their time leaping among the branches or frolicking on the forest floor. They live in highly-social troops with dozens of members and their interactions are fascinating to behold – making them one of the most engrossing primates to observe in the wild.   Setting out early this morning, you’ll embark on a trekking adventure to encounter one of the habituated troops that dwell in Volcanoes National Park. Again, the exact duration of today’s adventure depends upon the location of your designated Golden Monkey troop. As with the Gorillas, visitors are allowed to spend one hour in the presence of these amazing primates, and the entire excursion can last up to 4 hours including the hike up from Park Headquarters and back down. After this unforgettable experience, the rest of your day is free to relax and enjoy the sublime setting of our luxury lodge.  Meals B+L+D

After breakfast at the Lodge, a chauffeured journey takes you eastward to Akagera National Park where you will arrive in time for lunch at our luxury safari camp on the untouched shores of Lake Rwanyakazinga. After settling in to your spacious under-canvas suite, the rest of this afternoon is yours to relax and delight in the wildly beautiful setting of our camp, a private concession teeming with hippo, crocodile and a rich variety of birds. After dinner, a thrilling night game drive offers a chance to hear and possibly spot some of Akagera’s nocturnal species.  Meals B+L+D

The history of Akagera National Park is nearly as fascinating as its wildlife – a complex story that saw its near total collapse in the 1990’s followed by an inspiring resurgence that has placed the national park firmly on the map as a one of Central Africa’s best big game safari destinations! Accompanied by our expert safari guide, you’ll set out this morning on a game drive to track the Big Five along with a wide variety of other plains game including zebra, eland, giraffe and spotted-hyena. This afternoon, a guided boat safari is a terrific way to view the water birds and aquatic animals that populate the shores and waters of Lake Rwanyakazinga. An evening game drive and a congenial dinner end this thrilling day on safari!  Meals B+L+D

Encompassing open plains, dense woodland, swamps, lakes and low grassy mountains, the varied terrain of Akagera National Park is home to an impressive variety of big game. Reintroduced after decades of absence, the Park now boasts healthy populations of lions and black rhinos. Its hippo population is one of the densest in all of Africa, there are some extremely large crocodiles that inhabit its lakes and rivers, and this is one of the best places on the Continent to encounter the rare sitatunga – a swamp dwelling antelope with striking white stripes. Accompanied once again by our experienced safari guides, you’ll enjoy another day of exciting game-viewing activities by land and water. Birders will be thrilled to learn that Akagera is also home to more than 520 bird species!  Meals B+L+D

After a final early morning game drive and breakfast, you’ll be chauffeured back to Kigali for your onward flight.  Meals B